10 Best Things to Do in Jim Thorpe in the Poconos, Pennsylvania

The historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is a popular place to visit in the Pocono Mountains. The town is home to historic attractions, unique inns, shops, and restaurants. Visit the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, the Old Jail Museum and the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary. Here are the best things to do in Jim Thorpe, PA. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.

10 Best Things to Do in Jim Thorpe in the Poconos, Pennsylvania

• Asa Packer Mansion Museum, Photo: Courtesy of jonbilous - Fotolia.com
• Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Courtesy of jonbilous - Fotolia.com
• Old Jail Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Courtesy of Nomad_Soul - Fotolia.com
• Harry Packer Mansion, Photo: Harry Packer Mansion
• Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, Photo: Courtesy of Dave - Fotolia.com
• The Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Courtesy of eugenesergeev - Fotolia.com
• Mauch Chunk Museum, Jim Thorpe, PA, Photo: Mauch Chunk Museum
• Pocono Whitewater, Photo: Courtesy of Alexey Achepovsky - Fotolia.com
• Jim Thorpe Sidecar Tourz, Photo: Courtesy of dmitrimaruta - Fotolia.com
• Jim Thorpe River Adventures, Photo: Courtesy of Alex Green - Fotolia.com
• Cover Photo: Courtesy of AardLumens - Fotolia.com

Attraction Spotlight: Harry Packer Mansion

Located in Jim Thorpe, PA, the Harry Packer Mansion is a historic landmark that “blends old world opulence with modern day convenience”. The Mansion is mostly popular for their Murder Mystery Weekends.

In 1874, founder of Lehigh University and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Asa Packer built the Harry Packer Mansion for his son Harry. The Mansion was Asa’s wedding gift to Harry and his new wife. Six years later, Harry hired Addison Hutton to renovate a few sections of the Mansion. Together, the Harry and the Quaker architect expanded the Mansion by building a study wind and a front veranda. The front veranda is one of the most recognizable features of the Mansion, as it is made out of blue stone from New York, tile, and a mahogany ceiling (all of which still stands today).

In 1983, Robert and Patricia Handwerk purchased the Harry Packer Mansion. When the Handwerks purchased the Mansion, only the first level had electricity, the house had no plumbing or heat, and the roof appeared to be crumbling. With hard work and dedication, the Handwerks were able to restore the beauty of the Harry Packer Mansion.

Today, the Mansion operates under the Handwerk family of Pat and Bob, their son Taylor, and his wife Kristen. Thanks to Taylor and Kristen, the Mansion has expanded from a typical bed & breakfast to an added Libations Lounge, which serves a fine variety of alcohol.

Guests can choose to stay in either the Mansion or the Carriage House. It’s important to note that since the establishment is historic, children are not allowed and smoking is strictly prohibited. Rooms inside the Mansion include:

· Queen size beds

· Private bathrooms

· Egyptian cotton sheets with 700 thread count

· Air conditioning

· Free WiFi

As for the Carriage House, Asa Packer originally built this facility in 1861 as a place to service the Mansion. It is 50 feet away from the Mansion, and is decorated like a classic hunting lodge. Currently, there are six guest rooms in the Carriage House. Anyone who stays in the Carriage House also has access to the Mansion. Each room within the Carriage House includes:

· Queen size beds

· Private bathrooms

· Free WiFi

· Access to a communal Keurig coffee maker

Aside from the Mansion and Carriage House being attractions within themselves, guests are welcome to hang out in the Libations Lounge. The Libations Lounge offers a selection of fine spirits, beer, and wine inside a Victorian setting.

Aside from the Libations Lounge, many people visit the Harry Packer Mansion to participate in one of the Murder Mystery Weekends. Murder Mystery Weekends occur almost every weekend from Friday through Sunday. The storyline of the Murder Mystery is a combination of reality and fiction. While detailed information is unavailable, what is known is the Packer fortune is involved in the plot.

Each Murder Mystery Weekend is offered for 11 couples. Larger groups are encouraged to participate in Murder Mysteries throughout the midweek. For larger groups, individuals can volunteers to act as certain characters, and others can work in teams. It’s important to note that the price of rooms are different for Murder Mystery nights.

For more information about the Libations Lounge, Murder Mystery Weekend, or any other attraction at the Harry Packer Mansion, visit the Mansion’s official website.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Harry Packer Mansion, but you don’t want to spend the night there, you could always take a self-guided tour. A self-guided tour has an admission per person, and allows participants to explore almost every nook and cranny of the Mansion. It’s important to note that the second floor is only accessible when there are no guests. If the second floor happens to be closed, the tour fee will be cut in half.

If you’re interested in learning about wine, what the difference between “good” and “bad” wine is, anything else wine related, then take one of the Harry Packer Mansion’s wine classes. Each wine class teaches a group of six or more about the basics of wine, how to decipher and understand a wine’s label, information about pairing wines, and how to evaluate the taste and quality of a wine.

The Harry Packer Mansion hosts a combination of public and special events throughout the year such as First Friday Wine Tastings where guests can enjoy appetizers and wine in The Lounge and New Year’s Eve special events. Private events and parties may also be booked through the event staff at the mansion.

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19 Packer Ave. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, 18229, Phone: 570-325-8566

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Attraction Spotlight: The Old Jail Museum

Located in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, the Old Jail Museum was used as a jailhouse during the late 1800s. Guided tours occur on a daily basis from Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend. During September and October, the Old Jail Museum is only open during the weekends.

Tom McBride and his wife Betty Lou purchased the Old Jail Museum in 1995. The Old Jail Museum has a dense history, most of which is unpleasant. Most notably, the Old Jail Museum was the site of the Molly Maguires hanging in 1800s. Known as the Day of the Rope, which was June 21, 1877, Alexander Campbell, Edward Kelly, Michael Doyle, and John Donohue, who were Irish coal miners, were hung. On March 28, 1878, another Irish coal miner named Thomas P. Fisher was hung. Then, on January 14, 1879, two more Irish coal miners named James McDonnell and Charles Sharp were hung.

These trials, known as the Molly Maguires are known as one of the first examples of the surrender of state sovereignty. While the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided the courtroom and gallows, a private corporation led the investigation alongside a private detective agency and a private police force. Private attorneys were also used.

It’s important to note that prior to the men being hung, many proclaimed that they were innocent. Today, many historians believe that some of the men who were hung were falsely accused and actually innocent.

The Old Jail Museum itself is the only attraction at the Museum. The Old Jail Museum consists of:

· Approximately 72 rooms.

· 27 cells,

· Basement dungeon cells.

· Warden’s apartment which includes a living room, dining room, sitting room, and two bedrooms.

· Kitchen for the warden and their family, as well as the prisoners.

One of the only educational opportunities at the Old Jail Museum are the guided tours.

Visitors also have the option of participating in a group tour. Group tours are available on specific weekday dates from May through October, as well as any weekends throughout the season except October. It’s important to note that group tours require a minimum of 20 people.

Aside from regular guided tours, visitors can take a ghost tour. According to the Old Jail Museum’s website, the ghosts at the Old Jail Museum are friendly and often make themselves known to people who are not specifically looking for them. Since the Old Jail Museum is currently closed for the winter season, they have not released their ghost tour dates for the 2017 season. If you’re interested in taking a ghost tour, make sure to check the Old Jail Museum’s official website on a regular basis.

After exploring the Old Jail Museum, make sure to shop on their online Gift Shop. The Old Jail Museum’s online Gift Shop sells a variety of souvenirs, such as books, DVDs, sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, and drinkware. All of the online Gift Shop’s orders are processed through Peggy’s Treasure Shop.

For more information about the souvenirs sold at the Old Jail Museum’s gift shop and Peggy’s Treasure Shop, visit the Old Jail Museum’s official gift shop website.

The Old Jail Museum is located on 128 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229. If you’re unfamiliar with the Jim Thorpe area, the Old Jail Museum is located in the historic downtown area of Jim Thorpe. It’s important to note that the Old Jail Museum only has a small parking lot, so most people park at a parking meter or in the County Parking Lot, which is located on Route 209.

In order to specifically get to the Old Jail Museum, you can easily walk from a parking meter or the County Parking Lot. All you have to do is walk up Broadway. The Old Jail Museum is located five blocks away from the Court House that has a clock. The Old Jail Museum provides visitors with an online map. Also, the Old Jail Museum states on their website that visitors are free to give them a call in case they get lost.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania is a rustic town settled between east coast mountains and the Lehigh River making for gorgeous scenery and transporting you back in time. The downtown area is home to locally shops that have been restored to their grand Victorian architecture and style. There are many antique and specialty shops, eateries and cafes all within walking distance of The Old Jail House Museum. You can even take walking ghost tours of the town and visit some of the old coal mines while you are in town.

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128 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA, 18229, Phone: 570-325-5259

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